Coffee with a view: Muhammad Zaini preparing coffee from his modified motorcycle for villagers to enjoy their free cuppa and snacks in Kampung Lahar Tiang, Kepala Batas.
KEPALA BATAS: It does not get better than this. A mug of coffee and some biscuits with vast padi fields and Sungai Muda for a view. At no charge at all.
An odd-jobber started a Sunday evening hangout with his friends that soon became everybody’s favourite place for the folk of Kampung Lahar Tiang.
It all began in January when Muhammad Zaini Md Radzi, 29, fashioned a coffee stand on his motorcycle where he could boil water to brew the drink.
Built out of plywood, the contraption has space for him to keep enamel mugs, besides the usual sugar and milk.
The motorcycle coffee stand was inspired from what he had seen in Indonesia previously.
He said the idea for the coffee hangout came during a fishing session with friends.
Initially, it was meant for just his friends and him to enjoy their coffee break.
But soon, other villagers began noticing them having a delightful time with their coffee and snacks while admiring the sunset at the northern edge of Seberang Prai with Kedah across the river.
They began to join Muhammad Zaini and his friends when they gather every Sunday between 5pm and 7pm..
Muhammad Zaini, who calls his initiative “Kopi Khita”, would make the coffee for free for his guests.
This despite him spending about RM50 on the coffee and biscuits. He earns about RM1,500 a month, taking on odd jobs.
As the crowd got bigger, he said that some of his friends contributed some funds to buy the coffee and biscuits .
He said coffee shops in nearby villages gave him utensils and sometimes even biscuits.
“I don’t have any intention at all to make this a business. I just want to share the joy of having hot coffee with biscuits by the padi fields,” he added.
He said seeing people come for his coffee and dunking biscuits into the drink made him happy.
“I know it is not much, but at least I do my part for the community,” he said.
With the fasting month coming, Muhammad Zaini said Kopi Khita would take a break but would resume after Hari Raya.
Muhammad Zaini lives with his mother and elder brother in Kampung Lahar Tiang, a village beside Sungai Muda, at the border of Penang and Kedah.
